Animal food and its appearance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10104903-B2
Application number	US-53304509-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2009
Priority date	Jul 31, 2009
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

Animal feeds comprising at least one kibble comprising a colored appearance. The colored appearance can communicate to a purchaser of the animal feed that the kibble provides a health benefit. The kibble can further comprise an active, such as a Probiotic, that provides a health benefit. The active kibbles can be mixed with non-active kibbles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An animal feed consisting essentially of:
a first kibble that does not include an active and is non-distinctive;
a second kibble that includes an active and is non-distinctive; and
a third kibble that does not include an active and is distinctive relative to the first kibble and the second kibble;
wherein an amount of the second kibble is about the same as an amount of the third kibble.

2. The animal feed of claim 1 , wherein the first kibble and the second kibble do not comprise a colorant, and wherein the third kibble includes a colorant.

3. The animal feed of claim 1 , wherein the third kibble includes a color that is distinctive from a color of the first kibble and a color of the second kibble.

4. The animal feed of claim 1 , wherein the active includes a probiotic.

5. The animal feed of claim 4 , wherein the probiotic includes an activity of at least 10 5 CFU/gram.

6. The animal feed of claim 1 , wherein the third kibble includes a coating that comprises the active.

7. The animal feed of claim 1 , wherein the third kibble includes a dusting that comprises the active.

8. The animal feed of claim 7 , wherein the dusting is substantially free of a binder.

9. An article of manufacture comprising:
a package including an opaque portion and a transparent portion, the transparent portion including a viewing aperture; and
an animal feed contained within the package that is viewable through the viewing aperture when the package is in a customary position on a retail store shelf, the animal feed consisting essentially of:
a first kibble that does not include an active and is non-distinctive,
a second kibble that includes an active and is non-distinctive, and
a third kibble that does not include an active and is distinctive relative to the first kibble and the second kibble;
wherein an amount of the second kibble is about the same as an amount of the third kibble.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein the first kibble and the second kibble do not comprise a colorant, and wherein the third kibble includes a colorant.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein the active includes a probiotic.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein the third kibble includes a coating that comprises the active.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein the third kibble includes a dusting that comprises the active.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the dusting is substantially free of a binder.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein the active is electrostatically charged.

Assignees

• Sunvold Gregory Dean
• Grey Rebecca Massie
• Corrigan Patrick Joseph
• Houston Michelle Marie
• Mars Inc

Inventors

• Sunvold Gregory Dean
• Grey Rebecca Massie
• Corrigan Patrick Joseph
• Houston Michelle Marie

Classifications

• A23K40/30 Primary

  by encapsulating; by coating · CPC title

• A23K10/18

  of live microorganisms · CPC title

• A23K20/179

  Colouring agents, e.g. pigmenting or dyeing agents · CPC title

• A23K50/42

  Dry feed · CPC title